Vocations — Diocese of False Bay

Lay
Ministry
Training

Equipping the baptised faithful for servant ministry in the Church and the world — grounded in Scripture, formed in community, sent in love.

Find Out How to Apply
6 Archdeaconries Served
∞ Ways to Serve
Lay Ministers licensing service 2025
Lay Ministers Licensing Service 2025

A calling that belongs
to all the baptised

Lay Ministry is not a secondary calling. From the earliest days of the Church, the whole People of God have been commissioned to ministry — to teach, to serve, to lead, to care, and to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed.

In the Diocese of False Bay, Lay Ministry Training forms and equips lay people to exercise that calling with depth, skill, and faithfulness — serving in their parishes, their communities, and the wider Diocese.

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

— 1 Corinthians 12:27

The programme is open to all baptised and confirmed members of the Anglican Church who sense a call to lay ministry and are commended by their parish priest. Training takes place across the Diocese in a blend of gathered teaching days, home study, and practical placement in parish life.

The Programme

A few sessions of
formation

The Lay Ministry Training programme unfolds over a few sessions of training, each building on the last — deepening theological understanding, developing practical skills, and forming character.

01
Foundations of Faith

An introduction to Anglican theology, the Scriptures, Christian history, and the rhythms of prayer and worship that form the bedrock of all ministry.

FAITH

Covers: Introduction to the Bible · Anglican Identity · The Creeds · Liturgy & Worship · Personal Spirituality

02
Ministry in Context

Moving from foundation into application — understanding pastoral care, preaching, evangelism, and the Church's call to serve the poor and the marginalised.

MINISTRY

Covers: Pastoral Theology · Preaching & Teaching · Mission & Evangelism · Community Engagement · Ethics

03
Servant Leadership

This focuses on leadership, spiritual direction, and consolidating all that has been learned through a supervised ministry placement and reflective practice.

SERVANT

Covers: Servant Leadership · Supervised Placement · Spiritual Direction · Ministry Discernment · Commissioning

Lay Ministers licensing service 2025
“

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

— Luke 10:2

Lay Ministers in the Diocese of False Bay serve across all six archdeaconries — in parishes large and small, urban and rural. They lead Morning Prayer, preach, visit the sick, teach in Sunday schools, lead Alpha courses, administer communion to the housebound, and serve at the altar. They are the hands and feet of the Church in places where a priest cannot always be present.

Upon completion of the programme, Lay Ministers are formally commissioned by the Bishop and licensed to serve in a specific parish or context. This commissioning is a solemn and joyful moment — the Church recognising and authorising a vocation that has been tested, formed, and found ready.

Areas of Study

What you will learn

Scripture & Theology

A thorough grounding in the Old and New Testaments, Anglican doctrinal standards, and the great tradition of Christian thought.

Liturgy & Worship

Understanding and leading Anglican worship with confidence — from Morning Prayer to the Eucharist, from baptisms to funerals.

Pastoral Care

Visiting the sick, supporting the bereaved, walking alongside those in crisis — the ministry of presence and compassionate accompaniment.

Preaching & Teaching

Preparing and delivering sermons, leading Bible studies, and communicating the Gospel clearly and faithfully in a variety of settings.

Mission & Evangelism

The Church's calling to go beyond its walls — understanding mission, practising evangelism, and engaging the community with the Gospel.

Ethics & Justice

Christian ethics applied to contemporary life — poverty, justice, gender, the environment — and the Church's prophetic calling in society.

Spirituality & Prayer

Developing a sustainable personal rule of life, deepening contemplative practice, and learning the classical disciplines of Christian formation.

Leadership & Administration

The practical skills needed to lead parish committees, manage projects, care for a team, and sustain healthy communities over the long term.

How to Apply

The path to
commissioning

  1. 1
    Speak with your Parish Priest

    All candidates must be nominated by their parish priest. Begin by having an honest conversation about your sense of calling and what ministry in your parish might look like.

  2. 2
    Complete the Application Form

    Your priest will provide you with the Diocesan Application Form for Lay Ministry Training. This includes a personal statement, your spiritual autobiography, and a reference from your warden or church council.

  3. 3
    Interview with the Archdeacon

    Shortlisted candidates are invited to an informal interview with their Archdeacon, who will discern whether the candidate is ready to enter training and in what capacity they are called to serve.

  4. 4
    Enrolment & Orientation

    Successful candidates are enrolled and invited to an orientation day, where they meet their cohort, receive their study materials, and are formally welcomed into the programme by the Director of Training.

  5. 5
    Sessions of Formation

    Training days are dependant on the Archdeaconry. Candidates submit written reflections, complete reading assignments, culminating in commissioning by the Bishop.

Requirements

To apply, candidates must be:

Baptised and confirmed members of the Anglican Church, in good standing with their parish, commended by their parish priest, and willing to commit to the programme.

No prior theological qualifications are necessary.

Intake & Dates

A new cohort begins each year. Training days are held on Saturdays, typically once a month, at venues across the Diocese, but are dependant on the Archdeaconry.

Contact the Diocesan Office for current intake dates and available places.

Enquire About Training